African Lip Service: Part II

Man I hate being right, unfortunately it seems to always be about mistaken effects. To recap, I have already illustrated that African Aid was and currently is a farce. (See African Lip Service) These were great promises, of monetary aid and support, from our leaders in the West (on both sides of the Atlantic) and the eventual disappearance, of this opaque aid, when the boom microphones were turned off. After which I received comments (see Evenhanded) alluding to the nature of Africa (are they naturally inclined to be corrupt?) and the constant corruption of African leaders (why throw good money after bad?).

It seems that aid has been promised, given and delivered; to the most needy in Africa: US workers. I know it is difficult to get a 10 ounce Kobe filet in sub-Sahara Africa but tough times call for corrupt measures.

As the Guardian of London reveals, “Two charities, ActionAid and the World Development Movement, accused the Department for International Development (DfID) of paying out "phantom aid" to the poor, after it was revealed that more than £700,000 of a £3m project was spent on hotel bills and meals for US workers. According to an investigation by BBC Radio Five Live, DfID donated £3m to Malawi relief projects. Of that cash, £586,423 was spent on hotels for a US consultancy agency, the National Democratic Institute. Another £126,062 was allegedly spent on meals.”

Now I know what your saying, “700, 000 pounds that’s a drop in the bucket compared to the vast underhanded corruption of dictators like Robert Mugabe, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, and Isaias Afwerki just to name a few.” However, we are trying to set an example. We are, like it or not, an example of how to be just and without exception, follow the rule of law. That is the onus set upon us when we “promise aid”. These corruption charges, each party is innocence until proven guilty, add fuel to the despotic fire of Africa. Moreover, these charges raise real concerns about the oversight and functionality of such “aid”.